Five teenagers who were accused of assaulting an 18-year-old girl at a playground in Brooklyn were released after the girl stated that the encounter was consensual.
The incident occurred at the Osborn Playground in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. The five young men, identified as Denzel Murray, 14, Shaquell Cooper and Ethan Phillip, both 15, and Onandi Brown and Travis Beckford, both 17, had been charged with the alleged assault.
According to a statement from the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, the complainant and her father provided inconsistent accounts of the incident to the NYPD and prosecutors. The statement read:
"Working closely with the NYPD, my office has thoroughly investigated disturbing and very serious allegations of a gang assault at gunpoint last month inside the Osborn Playground in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. The complainant, as well as her father, provided multiple inconsistent accounts to NYPD Detectives and to experienced Special Victims prosecutors about important material facts in this case."
The statement further noted:
‘The complainant has recanted her allegations of forcible sexual assault and the existence of a gun, and she does not wish to pursue criminal charges against any of the defendants."
As a result, the allegations against the five teenagers were dropped by Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, leading to their release.
